Alcaraz beats Tsitsipas to clinch back-to-back Barcelona titles
The Hindu
World number two Carlos Alcaraz beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 6-4 to win the Barcelona Open on April 23 and clinch his third ATP Tour title of the year and the ninth overall for the 19-year-old
World number two Carlos Alcaraz beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 6-4 to win the Barcelona Open on April 23 and clinch his third ATP Tour title of the year and the ninth overall for the 19-year-old.
Alcaraz, who had an injury-plagued start to the season and was beaten by Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of his last tournament, the Miami Open, won in Barcelona for the second consecutive year, taking the title without losing a set.
The Spanish teenager beat world number five and second seed Tsitsipas with the same ease that he dispatched every other opponent in Barcelona this week.
Alcaraz, who in December became the youngest year-end world number one since the ATP rankings began, was close to perfection on Sunday and gave a masterclass as he won in less than 80 minutes.
It was Tsitsipas's fourth consecutive loss to Alcaraz.
"Today I was myself, I was fluid and relaxed. It was the perfect moment to do it and I'm super happy to have delivered it in outstanding fashion," Alcaraz told TVE.
"Yesterday, before going to sleep I was so tense and woke up today very nervous. However, the warm-up helped me to relax, and I thought I should let my body flow and not be tight.